Opening and closing device for separable fasteners



cft. 14 1924. 1,511,777

L. ROCKE OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed Sept. 6, 1922 24 Gib-rue tot A was $04: A

atente at. I4, I24.

LOUIS ROOKIE, 01F BROOKLYN, NEW Y0 \1. t1

OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR SEPARABLIIE FASTER.

Application filed September 6, 1922.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis RocKn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Opening and Closing Devices for Separable lflasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of this invention is to improve upon a separable fastenin device of the type disclosed in United tates Letters Patent 1,219,881, granted to Gideon Sundback, March 20, .1917.

The specific type of separable fastener disclosed in said patent consists of a plurality of metallic fasteners mounted upon the edges of a fabric tape or stringer, having a beaded edge upon which the fasteners are clamped and a sliding cam device is provided for causin the opposed fasteners to be brought toget er at a proper angle of inclination toeach other to cause the cooperating fasteners to readily en age the sliding cam device when it is sli longitudinally along the stringers in one direction causing them to engage and be securely locked in engagement and when slid longitudinally in the opposite direction causing the fasteners to be disengaged. In order that the device as described above will function properly it has been found necessary to securely lock one end of the fabric tape edges together so that they will be brought into a proper position for permitting the sliding cam device to cause the fasteners to be readily locked. This locking of the ends of the tapes or stringers is accomplished in the device disclosed in the aforementioned patent by permanently fastening the ends of the tapes or stringers together by means of connecting links which are secured across the space between the edges of the tapes and are securely clamped to both tapes. Although the device described above functions perfectly its practical applications and uses are decidedly limited because of the necessity for permanently securing the meeting edges of the strin ers together, and although this device as been on the market for a number of years and numerous attempts have been made to devise an efiective means for securing the ends of the stringers detachably together, such attempts have heretofore, as far as I am aware, been unsuccessful.

The principal object of this invention therefore is to provide a new and improved Serial No. 586,406;

detachable clasp for securing the ends of the tapes or stringers together, whereby they may be held securely in a roper position to permlt the functioning of the sliding cam. Another object is to provide a clasp for a device of this character which may be read- 11y engaged or disengaged by a single movement.

Another object is to provide a detachable clasp for securing the ends of the stringers together without re uiring any modification of the sliding cam evice.

A further object is to provide a clasp of an exceedingly simple but light construction which may be manufactured at a very low cost, will require no moving parts or sprlngs to cause it to operate, will not add any excessive weight and will be positive and secure in its locking engagement.

For the accomplishment of these and such further objects as will hereinafter be apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis appertains, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a separable fastener showing a detachable clasp embodying my invention attached thereto the clasp and separable fastener being shown in locked position.

Fig. 2 is a front View, showing the ends of the stringers and illustrating the manner in which the end of a stringer is inserted into the sliding cam device.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig.2 showing the position of the parts of the clasp after the members thereof have been brought into engagement and before the sliding cam device has been actuated to completely lock the clasp members and fasteners.

Fig. 4 is an end view on an enlarged scale of the parts as seen from the lower end of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side view of the insertible member of the detachable clas As shown in the drawings, the numera s 10 and 11 indicate the respective tapes or stringers having the beaded ees 12 and tral portion 15 and side channels 16 and 17 diverging therefrom as disclosed in the aforementioned patent, the side portions of the sliding cam being spaced apart as indicated at 18 (Fig. 4) to permit the passage of the tapes.

Secured to one end of the tape 10 is a male clasp member 19 bent into a U shape to form a jaw portion 20 adapted to clamp over the beaded edge 12 of the tape or stringer. The'lower edge of the clasp member is cut away at an angle as indicated b the numeral 21 and proyecting outwardly from the clasp member substantially at the meeting point of the inclined edge 21 and outer side face 22 of the clas member is a headed stud 23 which prefera ly is slightly inclined to' the side face 22, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Projecting laterally from the end of the member 19 are a pair of tabs 24 which act as a positive stop to limit the movement of the sliding cam device and revent it from comin off the stringer, W en the fasteners are un ocked.

One end of the tape 11 'is provided with a female clasp member 25 which is formed of a piece of sheet metal bent into a U shape to rovide a clamping jaw portion 26 which 1s bent. into clamping engagement with the beaded edge 12, the ower edge of the clasp member 25 being cut away similarly to the member 19 as indicated by the numeral 21, and the inclined face 21" is slotted as indicated by the numeral 27, the slot 27 terminating at the shoulder 28 situated at the meeting point of the inclined face 21 and the outer side face 22 to form a stop for the headed stud 23 which is adapted to engage within said slot, which has its edges turned inwardly as indicated by the numeral 29 (see Fig. 4) to hold the enlarged head of stud 23 thereby preventing detachment of the clasp members by movement in a direction transversely of the tapes.

The operation of the device is as follows, assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1 and that it is desired to unlock the stringers the sliding cam device is moved downwardly causing the separable fasteners to be s read apart by the Y shaped channel, the. asteners on' the tape 10 passing through the channel 16 and the fasteners on tape 11 passing through channel 17, the wedge action of the Y channel causing the fasteners to separate. When the cam device is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 the wedge action will separate the faces 22 and 22 and will brin the inclined faces 21 and 21 in contact an thus bring the slot 26 into a position that will permit the tape 11 and clasp member 25 to be slid outwardly from the-cam device in a longitudinal direction and out of engagement with the headed stud 23. The tabs 24 will limit the unlocking movement of the cam device 14 and the relative positions of the tabs 24, stud 23 and slot 26 are such that the cam device will be stopped at the position indicated in Fig. 3 in which position the ta e 11 may be freely withdrawn. The ta s 24 also prevent the sliding cam from falling off the tape 10 when the clasps 19 and 25 are entirely separated.

When it is desired to lock the clamping device and fasteners together, the reverse action takes place, the tape 11 being inserted y into the channel 17, as shown in Fig. 2, the

headed stud 23 enga ing within the slot 26.

The tape 11 is pus ed downwardl until the headed stud 23 en ages with the slioulder 28, the parts then being in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the sliding cam device is slid upwardly as shown in Fig. 1. As the cam device slides upwardly the clasp members pivot around t e line of meeting of the faces 21, 21" and 22, 22 thus exertin a wedging action between the headed stud and the inturned edges of the slots 26 securely holding the parts in position.

While I have described the fastening devices as attached to tapes or stringers, it will be evident that they may be secured directly to any type of garments such as corsets, brassieres, overalls or in any other manner wherein it is desired to hold two pieces of material securely together, the term stringer as used in the claims hereunto appended is not therefore used in a limited sense, but is intended to embrace any tape, fabric, leather, or material to the edge of which the metallic fasteners 13 may be secured.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fastenersare permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device, having a central channel and diverging channels extending from and communicating with said central channel, is provided for locking and unlocking said metallic fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, one of said clasp members being provided with a slot and the other member with a projecting stud adapted to eng e said slot, said clasp members being provi ed with angularly inemma clined faces terminating adjacent said stud to provide a fulcrum about which said claspmembers are pivoted to lock said stud in said slot.

2. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fasteners are permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device, having a central channel and diverging channels extending from and communicating with said'central channel, is provided for locking and unlocking said metallic fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, said clasp members being provided with interengaging detachable locking means, said 7 clasp members being constructed and arranged to extend into said diverging channels when said cam device is in engagement with said limiting means, whereb said clasp members will be angularly inclined to one another.

3. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fasteners are permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a. sliding cam device, having a central channel and diverging channels extending from and communicating with said central channel, is provided for locking and unlocking said metallic fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, said clasp members being constructed and arranged to extend into said diverging channels-when said cam device is in engagement with said limiting means whereby said clasp members will be angularl inclined to one another, said clasp mem ers being provided with interengaging members adapted to be detached when said clasp members are in inclined position.

4. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fasteners are permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device, having a central channel and diverging channels extending from and communicating with said central channel, is provided for locking and unlocking said metallic fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, said clasp members being provided with interengaging members adapted to be detached when said clasp members are in inclined position, said interengaging members comprising a stud having an enlarged head secured to one clasp member, adapted to project into the adjacent diverging channel and the other clasp member being provided with a slot to engage said stud when said last named clasp member is inserted into its diverging channel.

:3. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fasteners are permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device, having a central channel and diverging channels extending from and c0mmunicat ing with said central channel, is provided for locking and unlocking said metallic fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, one of said clasp members being provided with a stud having an enlarged head, and the other of said clasp members beingprovided with a slot to engage said stud when said clasp members are inserted into diverging channels, the edges of said slot being turned inwardly to engage said enlarged head and prevent disengagement of said stud from said slot transversely thereof.

6. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fastening means are permanently secure-d upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device is provided for locking or unlocking said fasteners, characterized by a clasp member secured to one end of each stringer, one

of said clasp members being provided with V a headed stud and the other of said members being provided with a slot, the edges of which are turned inwardly to prevent disengagement of said stud by transverse move ment.

7. A separable fastenin device of the type wherein a plurality o metallic fastening means are permanently secured upon a pair-of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device is provided for locking or unlocking said fasteners, characterized by means for detachably securing the ends of said stringers in engagement, said means comprising a clasp member secured to an end of each stringer, and one of said clasp members being provided with a pair of laterally extending tabs to limit the opening movement of said sliding cam device.

8. A separable fastening device of the type wherein a plurality of metallic fastening means are permanently secured upon a pair of flexible stringers and a sliding cam device is provided for locking or unlocking said fasteners, characterized by means for detachably securing the ends of said stringers in engagement, said means comprising a clasp member secured tovan end of each stringer, said clasp members being provided with detachable interengaging means and means to limit the opening movement of said sliding cam device, said limiting means constructed and arranged when LOUIS ROOKIE. 

